CLINTON, MD — Mountee Brown, a former bank teller from Clinton, Maryland, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft on April 3, 2025, admitting to stealing more than $250,000 from customer accounts, many belonging to elderly victims.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Brown, 27, exploited his position at a bank in Upper Marlboro to facilitate unauthorized withdrawals from at least five customer accounts, four of which belonged to individuals over the age of 80.
Fraudulent Scheme and Unauthorized Withdrawals
The fraudulent activities began on October 21, 2022, when Brown allowed a co-conspirator to impersonate a customer and withdraw $10,000 from the victim’s account. Brown falsely claimed that the individual had been verified, processing the transaction despite knowing it was unauthorized.
Over the next two days, Brown and the same co-conspirator conducted two additional unauthorized withdrawals, totaling $20,000 from the same victim’s account.
On October 25, 2022, Brown facilitated two more fraudulent $10,000 withdrawals from accounts belonging to two additional victims, all of whom were elderly. In each case, Brown falsely documented that the customers were “known clients” and falsely stated that the withdrawals had been verified by his supervisor.
Personal Gains and Legal Consequences
Between October 22 and December 6, 2022, Brown deposited approximately $30,200 in stolen funds into his personal bank account, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
As part of his guilty plea, Brown faces a mandatory minimum of two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Additionally, he could receive up to 30 years for bank fraud. In total, Brown and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained approximately $255,000.
Impact on Victims and the Community
The scheme targeted elderly victims, many of whom were vulnerable and unaware of the fraud taking place until it was too late. The U.S. Attorney’s Office stressed the importance of holding those who exploit others for financial gain accountable, particularly when they prey on the elderly.
Investigation and Future Proceedings
Brown’s sentencing is set for later this year, and authorities have emphasized their commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from similar criminal activity.
